A Florida man has earned a $1,000 reward from a new state initiative for capturing an impressive 87 invasive pythons in just one month.
Aaron Mann, as part of the Python Elimination program created by the South Florida Water Management District, took home the monthly award. This program aims to motivate residents of the Sunshine State to eliminate Burmese pythons, which are a significant ecological threat.
Mann shares the prize with his hunting companion, and they can often be seen carrying large reptiles on their shoulders.
The program, which began offering cash incentives in early 2025, rewards the individual or team with the highest count each month.
Florida has also hosted various other initiatives aimed at reducing the python population, including the annual Florida Python Challenge.
Last year, the top participants in the challenge removed only 20 pythons, but they still walked away with a $10,000 prize.
Moreover, specialized python removal experts are compensated $50 for each snake they catch, with an additional $25 for every snake surpassing four feet in length.
In 2023 alone, a total of 19 feet of pythons were captured in Florida, earning $425 under this new incentive system.
The state has even introduced a tracking system that employs a cartoon-like robotic rabbit, which alerts officials when pythons are detected. This leads to a removal agent being dispatched, who may receive additional compensation for their efforts.
Burmese pythons have been inhabiting Florida’s Everglades since the 1990s, despite being a non-native species. Their numbers continue to rise, although exact population figures remain elusive.
Since 2000, nearly 19,000 pythons have been removed from the Everglades, according to reports.
